Belfast Giants winger Mark Cooper was at a loss for what to do in 2023 when it came to his next season’s plans.
He was still enjoying playing hockey, on the one hand. Cooper’s decision to move to Belfast in 2021 turned out to be the right one; in just two years at the SSE Arena, he became a cult figure and guided them to unheard-of levels of success.
On the ice, things couldn’t be better after they had recently won all three of the available trophies after a season in which they scored 21 goals. They had also won the double the year prior.
I was never not in love with the game or the process of winning and trying to get better personally. I just wanted potentially to lay my roots down in Canada,” explains the Toronto native.
“But I went back last summer and couldn’t really find anything that excited me like hockey did. I always wanted to continue playing, I just felt like I was getting older and wondered where my life was going.
“But with being able to stay this summer, I was able to lay roots down in Belfast, so that’s where I am and I’m able to enjoy my time in the city.”
Yes, Cooper is returning to the Giants for 2024–2025 after considering quitting the game entirely a year earlier. He will also be working at the SSE Arena during the summer and shadowing the Odyssey Trust’s financial team.
The best of both worlds is present. After good friend David Goodwin left the team, he took over as captain of the Giants, putting him front and center as the team’s heartbeat. Away from the rink, he experiences what a typical nine to five looks like.
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